Control mechanism



y 4 N.'PELOSI I 2,200,293.

CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Dec. 30, 1937 ATTORNEYS Patented May 14, 1940 UNITED. STATES 2,260,293 common mzcmmsm Nicholas Pelosi, Newark, N. 1., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 30, 1937, Serial No. 182,637

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to a machine control mechanism and has particular reference to detecting adverse conditions in an advancin web of material to the end that the web may be withoutimperfections and in proper position for use. i

, In the manufacture of various articles, including containers or cans made from fibrous material it has been found expedient to produce such articles from a continuous web of material which may be supplied from :a roll or the like. The web is preferably fed into a machine which partially or wholly produces the article. The web, in be- 7 ing fed,'sometimes breaks and this may produce a tangle which aside from loss of stock may also damage the machine. Also the web may contain an Opening such as a hole or other imperfection which if allowed to go through the machine will result in imperfect and damaged work. At other times the web in being fed into the machine may shift or run ofl' at an angle or its travel may be uneven, irregular or erratic. Such travel is com- 'monly known asweaving, and this again will result in imperfect work. '25 The present invention contemplates the detection of adverse conditions of an advancing web which includes anything not properly found in the web at a given time and when such a condition is detected provision is made for preventing the condition doing damage.

Such difllculties may be of improper feeding, of improper position, or of torn or imperfect surface or other property in the web of fibrous material and when so detected feeding of the web is terminated until a break is repaired, or the portion of the web containing a hole is removed, or until the web is realigned to prevent its "weaving.

An object, therefore, of the invention is the provision, for a moving web of fibrous material or the like, of electric detecting and machine line'control mechanism which will detect breaks and holes in the moving web and which, at the same time, will prevent weaving of the web so that the undesirable effects of such difliculties will beprevented.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection withthe accompanying drawing,

discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective viewof a mg a web being fed along a predetermined path of travel from a supply roll, parts being broken away, the view alsoincluding a wiring diagram which is associated with the detecting. mechanism;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the feeding apparatus and of the detecting mechanism; and

The supply roll B of the fibrous, material is 10 preferably supported in a horizontal position on a shaft I I (Fig. 1) carried in bearings I2 formed in a pairof sub-frames I3; Web A is threaded through the feeding apparatus C preferably passing under an idler roller [5 then over a metal 25' detector roller I 6 and hence between a pair of feed rollers I1. These rollers are mounted on shafts journalled in suitable bearings formed in a main frame l8.

The feed rollers H are rotated in unison by 30 any suitable means such as an electric motor [9. For this purpose one of the shafts of the feed rollers I1 is provided with a pulley 2| which is driven by an endless belt 22 taking over a drive pulley 23 on the shaft of the motor l9. Rotation all of the feed rollers H by the motor thus draws the web A through the apparatus as it unrolls from the roll 13 and also advances it to any suitable machine for further treatment.

The detector and control mechanism Dis 10- lo cated adjacent the detector roller Hi. This mechanism preferably includes a fine bristle, copper wire, brush 3| which, is clamped between a metal top plate 32 and a bottom plate 33. The top plate 32 extends the full length and width of the 8 brush and the bottom plate 33 also extends the full length of the brush but only suflicient of its width to hold the brush in place.

The top plate 32 is protected by an overlying insulating plate 34 which is secured in place by 50 screws 35. A clip or finger 36 is secured by a pivot screw 31 to each end of the top plate 32. vThese two clips rest of their own weight on the extreme edges of the web A asshown in Fig. 2 as the web moves over the detector roller 16. Y

the main frame l8. The brush 3| normally rests on top of the web A as the latter passes over the detector roller IE but may be swung out of the waywhen desired by lifting the free end of and by rotating the brush unit on the pivot rod 38'. When in non-operating position the brush unit may be supported on an L-shaped pin 42 which is secured in the main frame l8. The pin extends through a hole 43 in the insulating plate- 34 and contacts directly with the metal top plate 32 of the unit.

The brush unit controls the operation of the electric motor I9. This is effected by electric apparatus including a detector electric circuit and a motor circuit which are shown in the wiring diagram in Fig. 1 and which are interposed between the brush unit and the motor. 7

The detector circuit includes a wire 5| one end of which is connected to a terminal 52 which is secured in the top plate 32 of the brush unit. The other end of the wire5| is connected to a source of electric energy such as, for example, a generator 53. The generator is also connected by a wire 55 to a solenoid 56 which is part of a relay switch 51. The solenoid in turn is connected by a wire" 58 to a spring brush 59 which is securedto the main frame l8 end which is held in frictional contact with the metal detector r oller IS. The circuit is thus grounded-on the machine frame l8. The motor circuit includes the relay switch 51 and comprises besides this switch, a pair of switch terminals GI, 62 which are normally engaged by the switch points. The switch is thus normally closed. Terminal 6! is connected by a wire 63 to the motor l9. Terminal 62 is connected by a wire 64 to a source of electric energy such as an auxiliary generator 65 The auxiliary generator is also connected by a wire 66 to the motor. When the motor circuit is closed this being under normal operatingconditions, as. when the relay switch is closed, electrical energy flows from the auxiliary generator 65 to the motor is. Operation of the motor, as hereinbefore explained, rotates the feeding rollers l1 and this feeds the web A of material through the apparatus.

When there is a break or a hole (indicated in Fig. 1 by the letter H) in the moving web A this is detected as it passes over the detector roller l6. At that time more or less of the bristles of the brush 3| extend through the breaker the hole and directly contact the detector roller l6. This contact immediately establishes and closes the detector circuit and electric energy from the generator 53 energizes the solenoid 56.

When the solenoid is energized its slidingcore opens the relay switch 51 and thereby breaks the .the detector circuit, in the same manner as just explained for .a break or a hole in the web, and

contact with the roller.

the solenoid 56 being energized the motor circuit is broken and stopping of the motor results.

When the web has been realigned on the roller and the clips replaced on top of the web the detector circuit will be broken at the web. The web A serves as insulation on the detector roller l6 as long as the clips 36 or the brush 3| remain on the web and are held away from and out of The motor circuit can then be re-established so that feeding of the web will be resumed.

Provision is also made for preventing normal feeding of the web A when the brush unit is in non-operating position as when laid back .on the L-shaped pin 42. When in this position the pin 42' directly contacts the top plate 32 of the brush unit and this completes the detector circuit between brush and detector roller. through the medium of the main frame l8. Establishment of the detector circuit in this manner accomplishes the same result as when completed during weaving or breaking of the web.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its materialadvantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

l. A control mechanism for a machine operating on a web of insulating material fed therethrough, comprising 'in' combination: feeding means including an electric motor for advancing the web through the machine, a metal detector roller over which said web passes, a flexible metallic brush pivotally mounted above said metal roller and normally held separated and insulated therefrom by said web, said metallic brush being adapted to make electrical connection with said .detector roller when an opening in said web breaks the insulation by allowing engagement between brush and roller, such electric connection stopping said motor and travel of said web.

2. A control mechanism for a machine operating on a web of material as it is fed therethrough, comprising in combinationfeeding means including an electric motor for. advancing the web through the machine, a metal detector roller over which said web passes, a flexible brush member pivotally mounted above said detector roller and normally held separated therefrom by said web, said brush member substantially extending across the entire width of'said web, an

electric motor circuit for said motor, a normally open electric detector circuit including said detector roller and said brush member, and a relay switch common to both circuits and normally holding said 'motor .circuit closed, said 'flexible brush member closing the detector circuit and energizing said relay switch to break the motor circuit and stop feeding of the web when an imperfection in the 'web'passes over the roller and allows said brush member to contact the detector roller. V

3. A control mechanism "for-a machine operating on a web of materialfedtherethrough, comprising in combination, feeding means including a detector roller'for advancing'the web through the machine, and detector devices-electrically connected with said webfeeding means,v

said detector devices including a pivotally mounted flexible metallic brush member nor- 1.

' mally maintained by said web out of contact with said last mentioned electrical circuit to stop actusaid roller, said member operating to contact said roller to stop actuation of said web feeding means when said devices detect imperfection of condition of the web of material and its position on and relative to said roller.

4. A control mechanism for a machine operating on a web of material fed therethrough, comprising in combination, feeding means including a detector roller for advancing the web through the machine, and detector devices electrically connected with said web feeding means and adaptable to press against said web during normal feeding thereof but being movable into detecting position when not properly held by said web, said detector devices including independent pivotally mounted flexible metallic brush members normally maintained by said web out of contact with said roller, said members operating to contact said roller and energize an electric circuit to stop said web feeding means when said web is defective or out of position-relative to said detector roller.

5. A control mechanism for a machine operating on a web of material being fed there- 'through, comprising in combination feeding 'brush member out of operating position, and an additional electrical circuit connecting said detector devices and said supporting unit with said motor, said supporting unit operating through ation of said motor when said brush member is in non-operating position on said supporting unit.

6. A control mechanism 'for a machine operating on a web of material fed therethrough,

comprising in combination feeding means including an electric motor for advancing the web through the machine, a metal detector roller over which said web passes, a finger and a flexible metallic brush member pivotally mounted above and adjacent each longitudinal edge of the web where it passes over said roller, said fingers being normally separated from the roller by engaging on the moving web, and electric circuits connecting said fingers with said electric motor, said fingers and said brush member operating through said electric circuits to stop said feeding means upon engaging said roller when the web weaves on the roller and moves out of separating position.

7. A control mechanism for a machine operating on a-web of material as it is fed therethrough, comprising in combination: feeding means for advancing the web through the machine, a metal detector roller over which said web of material is iedby said feeding means,

a detector element including a flexible metallic brush member pivotally mounted above said roller and normally held separated therefrom by said web, a finger pivotally mounted above and adjacent each marginal edge of the web where it passes over said roller, said fingers being normally held separated from the roller by the edges of said web, said detector element and asaid finger being engageable respectively with said metal roller to electrically interrupt said feeding means to stop the advancement ofsaid web when an imperfection in the web registers with said brush a member and when weaving and irregular travel of the web on said roller permits contact between a said finger and said roller.

NICHOLAS PELOSI. 

